Jaguar Effigy Vessel

1000-1350 CE

(, - present)

Jaguar effigy vessels made in southern Nicaragua and northern Costa Rica portray the transformation into a shamans animal spirit companion. Here the pose is that of a human seated on a bench with forearms resting on bent knees. Yet his head has been transformed into that of his animal spirit co-essence. The figures hollow front legs contain small clay pellets that rattle when the vase is moved.